INTRODUCTION
(Pleurisy-root].
INFORMATION
Is used by our country people as a domestic remedy for colds on the chest; cough, with soreness and stitches in the chest, tightness of breathing and similar rheumatic irritations of the thoracic organs. We have two provings of this drug, one by Dr. Thomas Nichol, of Belleville, Canada, and the other by Dr. P.H. Hale, of Hudson, Michigan, the latter selecting the oleo-resin for his proving. Another proving by Dr. A. Savery, Member of the Gallican Society, is utterly worthless.
Nichol’s proving seems to confirm the specific action of pleurisy-root upon the respiratory organs, more particularly upon the pleura; and seems to justify the use of this drug in rheumatic affections of the pleura, in accordance with the requirements of specific homoeopathy.
From Dr. Hale’s proving we infer that the drug causes rheumatic irritations in the respiratory mucous membrane, and in the mucous expanse lining the stomach and intestines. The chest-affection is characterised by oppression on the chest, tightness of breathing, acute pain under the right clavicle or in the right lung, when drawing a long breath; accessory symptoms being; slight creeping chills, flushed cheeks, weakness and tremulousness of the lower limbs, soreness of abdominal integuments and epigastric region, heavy and dull pain in the small of the back, pulse rising at night to 90, with great thirst, although the tongue was moist; diminished secretion of urine, which was, moreover, thick and high-colored.
